#edinburgh 2014

[onlucidwings]

Seen in Edinburgh

[edfringereview]

The March of The Leafleters - documentary subtitles

Found predominantly in the busy social hubbub of the Royal Mile, Leafleters tend to begin their day in groups. There is no predicting when certain Leafleters will exit their homes but there tends to be a routine to their activity. 

They face a gruelling task. Unlike the majority of their species they do not spend their day scavenging for food, a show or a friend. Instead, regardless of the weather conditions, they roam laden with paper of all shapes and sizes. Of all the creatures on the Royal Mile, excluding the unicycle riding juggler, the Leafleters are those with the most energy. They expend it with continued smiling, jumping and hand waving alongside many fruitless attempts at wit. 

They are not the most efficient workers and are prone to boredom, often wandering away from their task. The most experienced of the Leafleters bide their time, select their prey with precision (normally solitary individuals) and pounce with an arm casually outstretched and an air of nonchalance on their face. The younger watch those more mature with eagerness but find their attempts are often met with derision and scowls. They are yet to understand the complexities of the Leafleters' task but they practice amongst themselves, swapping leaflets with nodding encouragements and false bravado. Leafleters are team players and when one begins to tire another will soon take their place. Their work continues until late in the day when their prey begins to dwindle. Many are called upon to perform elsewhere but as the sun begins to lower itself behind Edinburgh castle so great swathes of Leafleters begin the steady decline to the watering hole. From here there is no telling when they will head back home. Once disarmed of paper it is very difficult to distinguish a Leafleter from other members of the species. They drink and chat late into the night, happily disguised amid the masses.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lili Thomas studies English at Downing College, Cambridge and won the Week One Award for the Nicest Housemate :) :) 

[diaryofacomic-blog]

Edinburgh Daily Blog: Day 14

Before I begin, I should say a couple came to the show yesterday who read this blog on condition I don’t call them a name. I think the name was “old farts” or something similar, so to them I say: thanks for coming / reading.

    Show Review

  I got up on time and left late, which pretty much sums up my Fringe experience so far. No matter how much I plan things they seem to change hourly.

  The show got 2 audience members today, a couple (not the ones mentioned above) from the Midlands. I offered to pull the gig as they didn’t look very comfortable (having been sat alone in the back of an Indian restaurant for 15 minutes only to find out they were the only audience it was hardly surprising). They opted to give the show the green light.

  I told them the usual show “format” and gave them the option of hearing a bunch of new jokes and ideas which I am working on for 2015… they picked the latter.

  This show proved to be one of the most fun ones of the Fringe.

  Becoming increasingly bored of your material is a thing most comedians take longer to feel than me. By trying out new ideas and riffing them I was able to get direct feedback from people who have never performed comedy as well as a good length of stagetime to test which ideas were worth pursuing and which I was going to backbench for 2016 (or later).

  I left with an amazing adrellaline rush I’d not felt for a while. I get a buzz from coming off stage but by not scripting the jokes and just running with the idea(s) by a few strangers I had to think on my feet and talk normally (and not in the overly rehearsed style I tend to do).

  After the gig I walked back home to drop off my bucket. Smug as I’d been able to try a bunch of new bits and feel that most of them had legs, but a little wary of the fact that trying out a joke once is not a full proof system of knowing if it’s a good gag – a lot of off-the-cuff or in-the-moment improvisations are only good the one time, so I was keen to give a few ideas a 2nd go.

  Oh Stanford Improv - spot

  Although this night is billed as an improv gig only comedians with pre-planned material were on the bill. It was a fun room, albeit a little lukewarm in places. I really had to sell these new ideas and I did none of the stuff I was dropping… which felt great.

  I did around 11 minutes of the new stuff and all but one joke hit.

  Honestly not felt better about stand up in a while. I felt more “me” on stage (as wanky as that sounds) and I really loved the feeling of improvement. I’d thought on my feet and added the odd word / line on top of bits I’d done in the morning.

  Afterwards I chatted with the audience to thank them and we talked about a few name ideas I had for the show for 2015. It was fun to get their direct opinions and feedback on them. It was like a little marketing focus group, but I didn’t have to pay them.

  Stuart Goldsmith: Extra Life – Review

  I loved this.

  I know Stu from his Comedians Comedian podcast that I listen to a lot. I’ve heard every episode and have been to some of the recordings. He mentioned he was going to be at the Fringe and I ignored the advert. I’ve never seen him before so wasn’t really willing to risk £9 (plus booking fee) on a person I’ve yet to see tell any jokes. Also couldn’t find a good video back in June so I left it.

  Yesterday Chortle uploaded a video of him at the Fast Fringe and I loved his bit about the phrase “plenty more fish in the sea”. It’s a really cool and intelligent take on the classic phrase so I booked him.

The show itself was really well put together. The flow of it was not fast and not slow, it was just right for his 7pm time slot. He handle the audience and room (it was very hot) amazingly and it clearly shows he’s been doing stand up for more than a decade (and street performing for another 10 years).

  He had 2 very smart and well-placed callbacks at the very end of his show that elevated it above a traditional “stand up” show set. It linked the whole thing together and made sense of the earlier story which otherwise seemed a little out of place.

  The only “downside” to the show was that he used the “plenty more fish in the sea” bit in the show. I dislike it when I’ve seen the material elsewhere as an advert for the show, but that’s just me. And to be honest I enjoyed hearing it live.

  I had planned to do another spot, explore Edinburgh and see Barry Fern’s show… but alas, this was not meant to be. So tomorrow I hope to see Barry (or Saturday, depending). I’ll try and get out of the city next week and I’ve got a spot on the same gig tomorrow, so I don’t have to wait too long to check to see if the other jokes were one hit wonders.

[edfringereview]

12 Ways to Survive the Royal Mile as a Tourist

Royal Mile (Scots: Ryal Mile) is the name given to a succession of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh in Scotland. It is also the heart that pumps lifeblood around the thespianic body that is the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It's well worth a visit for any tourist to the Fringe. However the experience can be overwhelming so it is worth bearing in mind the following when contemplating a quest to the Royal Mile:

 1.       Don't be in a rush - this is key as the throngs of flyerers and other tourists are bound to slow you down. On average a route that takes you down the Royal Mile will set your ETA back by 7 minutes. So if you're trying to get somewhere, plan for people traffic or take another road.

 2.       Notice the landmarks - obviously Edinburgh is a beautiful city andwhile walking around you should take every opportunity to soak in the aesthetics of the place. However there is a much more practical value in this. In a crowd as dense as this one, it’s not really a question of if but when you get separated from your group and how are you going to find them. Arranging to meet under the Virgin money signs is not helpful as there are several of them. So as you walk down the road notice the shop names, names of the side roads and any significant architectural features.

3.       Remember what your Fringe friends are wearing - for the same reason - inevitable group separation - having a good idea about what your buddies are wearing when you set out for the day can help you to pick them out of the crowd when the time comes.

 4.       Wear sturdy shoes - walking long distances on cobbles is not a smart idea. You'd be surprised how easy it is to get shin splints at the Fringe. So sacrifice your fashion for comfort if you want to take the experience seriously. 

 5.       Check out the street performers - they may get in the way and they may be of vastly varied standards and they may even scare you a bit. But they are part of the bread and butter that holds the whole delicious fringe sandwich together, creating an atmosphere of fun everywhere you go. So spare a minute to be amused by the various performers who decorate the street.   

 6.       Take every flyer - this is a) polite: you might get handed a gem of a show that you didn't know you wanted to see; and b) tactical: you'll be more quickly on your way if you just take everything you’re handed rather than resisting the trend. And if you really are flyered out don't be cross when a poor school student puts one in your path. After all, what did you come for the Fringe for? It's not so unreasonable that performers want to promote their show and it's certainly not worth letting it ruin your day.  

7.       Stop and talk to people - people promoting shows will always be happy to talk to you about what they're doing and it's fun to let them. Get into the friendly spirit by having a chat with a few strangers, the stranger the better!

8.       Get your weave on - large bodies of people are hard to navigate so be alert as you move through the masses. A good weaving technique will serve you well as you progress towards you chosen destination.   

 9.       Find your lane - if you struggle with weaving try and find your lane. Crowds tend to move like motorways. If you're a snail you’ll be better off on the outside. However if you fancy you chances with the Blakes and Bolts make a dash for the middle and cruise on up the Mile. If you need to make a lateral movement and you find yourself on the wrong side of the road make sure you check your shoulder before you make a turn.  

 10.       Go down the side allies - the Royal Mile hosts a series of quaint little allies that are work walking down for a bit a piece away from the crowd. Down these you'll often find a little cafe that isn't crammed with people and will serve you in under 45mins - score!

 11.       Take cash - for some reason *cough, to make money* a lot of the pubs and cafes on the Royal Mile have elected to have a pretty high minimum spend for cards. And while there are cash machines you can often be in for a long wait at one of these. So remember to stop at a hole in the wall before you get there.  

 12.       Smile - you're at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival! Cobbles and crowds are part of the experience. Be part of the merriment by smiling as you walk down one of Edinburgh's most beautiful roads.

 ~*~*~*

Anna Symington studies at the University of Bristol and won the Ed Fringe Week One Award For the Best Brunch. 

[edfringereview]

Why Scottish Rain Is Good For Your Fringe Experience

Forget pathetic fallacy and embrace the rain – it’s quintessentially Scottish and it’ll wash you into a theatre

When I first arrived in Edinburgh, it was sunny. My first reaction was surprise, and then disappointment. There were purple thistle flowers, stone castles, tartan bus seats, adorable children speaking in Scottish accents – even faint strains of bag pipes. But no rain! What is this?! I didn’t lug my “fisherman chic” yellow mac up here for nothing. Where’s the fine mist of magical H20? The cool, wet hand of Scotland on my face?

I didn’t have long to wait: the blue sky realised it was lost and headed back to the Caribbean, and a delightful drizzle set in. What my mother calls “that yellow monstrosity” has been paired with a sturdy black umbrella, of which I’m sure she’d approve. Thus equipped, I went for a drizzly morning walk, and thought about pathetic fallacy.

Pathetic fallacy isn’t what I had for breakfast, or the name of a show, but a literary technique: ‘The poetic convention whereby natural phenomena which cannot feel as humans do are described as if they could: thus rain-clouds may ‘weep’, or flowers may be ‘joyful’ in sympathy with the poet's (or imagined speaker's) mood.’ Perhaps one of the most well-known examples in theatre is the storm in King Lear – the weather raging as Lear’s mind rages. It’s employed everywhere: from Disney movies to advertising to novels. Think of the rain in The Notebook or Shawshank Redemption. In theatre, this is always harder to achieve than in films – audiences don’t really like getting wet, most of the time. Though I have seen some amazing confetti snow and electric lightning.

But what about the pathetic fallacy in real life? There’s the occasional magical summer’s day: blue skies, bright thoughts, everything is sunshiny. There’s the vindictively great moment when your day is horrible and the skies AGREE – and are making it horrible for everyone else by pissing down. On the other hand, I never wish upon you the profoundly disorienting moment when tragedy strikes and the heavens don’t split – the sun keeps shining, the birds keep singing, while you are reeling from whatever personal trauma just hit.

BUT – you can have a good time when it’s raining. Precipitation does not invite recrimination. Rain doesn’t equal pain. Drizzle is the shizzle. Embrace the quintessentially Scottish rain – learn to love it. There’s a German saying: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” Leave the pathetic fallacy for stage and screen, and let the rain motivate to get your bum to a seat and watch some of the great shows you came up here for.

Instead of soaking up water and whining about it, soak up some fantastic theatre! (Just never ever come here in the winter.)

~*~*~*~

Lucy Diver is the Digital Content Executive for Ed Fringe Review and won the Week One Award for Narrowly Avoiding Distaster. 

[underscoretheatre]

Indiegogo is Live!

Our Indiegogo platform is up and running! We really need your help to get to the Fringe this year. Please visit our campaign at http://igg.me/p/754777/x/7138204

[underscoretheatre]

We Are Fringe Official!

Actors will be hitting Edinburgh this August for a fortnight. Follow us to learn about the cast, crew and characters involved, and please help us out by contributing to our Indiegogo campaign!

[cannibalcowsplace]

Milk of amnesia pt. 2

*Clears throat* These blogs will be extra long and full of pics, so if you want to just skip by pressing ‘j’ or blocking ‘Edinburgh 2014’ which I will be tagging them. I also tag ‘long post’ So now you know. Ok, thank you for your attention, let the scrolling begin….

Part 1

Sunday 6th~~

We put some stuff on hold for tomorrow, including a GIANT Darth Vader (which I sadly can't be buying I found out later 'cause he is 2 times the size of what is allowed on the plane - but I have found him online >:D), and we'll have an even better look for stuff then! Today we got this cutesy Garrus Pop! figure and a New 52 Deadshot :3

It was quite warm and very lovely out, windy and a few drizzles, but still nice. We got some noms for the hotel, and went back so I could watch the F1 race :D <- I was super excited and so happy and pumped, it was a fantastic race! Up until the safety car came out.... After that Jenson fell from 5th to 11th really quickly, overtaken by all the cars he had been fighting with all race, only to retire when there was 2 laps to go x__________o Fdlasfkjsafjsdf. I was not very happy after that, not at all. Poor Jenson, and in his 250th grand prix as well. That just fucking sucked :(

After that I needed some food. Yesterday we saw this place called 'Burger' that had an interesting menu - for those who aren't only after fries- and my bf wanted to try it. Luckily we found our way back, because this place was pretty fantastic. He said the burger was delicious, and I can believe him eventhough I wouldn't eat it myself. Everything was so charming, the personnel were super nice, and for me most importantly their fries were heavenly. Mmm-m-m. Coming back here tomorrow for absolute sure.

LOOK AT THE FRIES MAN

We walked for a few hours, just around and about. I had seen this boba tea shop and I was curious about it, but unsure if I would like the tea at all. My bf convinced me to go try it, and I'm glad he did. I got a peach ice tea with mango popping pearls. The tea itself was delicious, but it was really weird slurping up the balls and have them kinda splat mango onto your tongue when you chewed them XD A fun thing to try, and quite tasty too.

<Wrestlemania rant>

The matches were fun, even Goldust was wrestling in the Andre the giant memorial rumble and ended up being the 9th man left in the ring! But nothing matters compared to Takers match for me. Now, I just love this man. Undertaker is amazing! So when his song starts, you hear that bell ring.... Holy shit! I am just all over the place, chills all over my body, and I just have to remember to breathe everynow and then XD He came in and had 22 coffins lined up next to him, Brock Lesnar's number 22 was on fire.

I felt something was weird about Taker not wearing his hooded leather jacket thing. He had a more fancy version of the hat and normal leather jacket, with loads of red and silver details. I just... I dunno something put me off about that. But he made it to the ring, chills all the way for me o_o And the lights were on, bell rings and the match started.

Taker went after Brock and seemed to lead the match at the start, then Brock, then Taker, back and forth as it usually is. Taker doing some signature moves, it all seemed to go just as usual. Leg drop, snake eyes, chokeslam. I was waiting for an old school, but Brock just got the upper hand again and again. He went after Taker's foot, and Taker did his 'my leg is hurt' kinda thing. He slowed down and got beaten down. Last ride, piledriver, 2 hell's gate... But Brock kicked out and Brock didn't tap. Now the last few WM's Taker did were just like this, the whole 'what will he have to do to end this???' thing is normal. But this time something was different. Taker never got back up to speed, he didn't get up. F5 after F5 after F5 and the Deadman stopped moving..... 1...2...3.... And it was over. Everything was over. The streak died. 21...... and 1. After 21 Wrestlemanias he lost. Undertaker lost.

The streak.... Undertaker... I can not explain the shock I was in. I thought to myself I was imagining things, that I was going insane. But blinking didn't change the '21-1' into a '22-0'. I am very passionate about my dear Undertaker, he is a hero of mine, and seeing him flat out on the floor like that after being beaten down... That hurt. It hurt so much. I was 100% confused, angry and sad at the same god damn time. The streak has ended.

Why? Why to fucking Brock out of all people? Is this all from back in 2010 when Taker asked Brock if he wanted to do 'the thing'? I just don't get it. This is not how it was supposed to end. This is not how it should have ended.

Taker got back up on his feet eventually. He didn't do anything special. He just walked all the way up the ramp, stopped for a second with his back to the crowd and disappeared. If this is the last time we see him I can not understand it. This is not worthy for a man who has given so much over so many years. But what does Taker have left now? The streak was the only thing bringing him back year after year, so my guess is this means he is gone. And that is a god damn shame if that is how it ends up being.

My dear, dear Undertaker. Fuck the streak, fuck everything else, this was not the way to go out. The last 4 years I have imagined how it would end and who would end it. I have thought up a million better stories than this. Brock? Fuck no! Walking out of the arena like a wounded animal? Nooo!!!

Just everything put aside, all the emotions.... I am left with just this tremendous respect. I am so happy to have seen him wrestle for all these years. I knew it had to end, everything does, but I just didn't think it would be anything as bad as this. I didn't think it would hurt as much, and I don't think it would have if they had played this better.........

The shock hit me so hard, it's gonna take time to even understand that this has actually happened. Why not HBK in the first place, the man who was so obsessed with ending the streak. Or HHH after that epic fucking match 2 years ago. Taker, HHH and HBK all hugged and walked out together, as a last breath from the old era in WWE. It would have been so much better like that, and not to rip our hearts out like this. Thank you Taker. Thank you for all the years of entertainment. I have nothing but respect for you. You have left my heart in a thousand pieces :'(

Now I am going to roll up in a ball and try to sleep. It's already been 2 hours since it ended and it seems like I'm not gonna be getting much sleep tonight. Maybe when I wake up tomorrow they say it was all a stupid joke. Take it back WWE, this was a bad move....